Heart and Harmony with Bandits on the Run at Night Club 101

Bandits on the Run started in 2014 as an underground New York City trio. Literally underground. Guitarist Adrian Blake Enscoe, cellist Sydney Shepherd, and accordionist Regina Strayhorn perfected their three-part harmonic chops while busking in subterranean subway stations.

Years later, with an ever-increasing number of above-ground festival dates and national tours, Bandits on the Run has been able to retain the simplicity and sparsity of the trio’s original sound, while continually exploring each member’s range of creativity. All three musicians have theatrical backgrounds, an innate compatibility that livens the curiously-arranged songs so that they blossom and become more than words and music. Bandits on the Run performances are infused with both a delicate humanity and an exuberant joie de vivre. The three individuals, their songcraft and their performances consistently project a charming and heartfelt authenticity.

At Night Club 101, Bandits on the Run introduced its sophomore album, Rough Magic, released on June 12, by performing the entire album, interspersed with a few non-album fan favorites. Unusual for a live performance, the three core musicians were fortified with a bassist and drummer for much of the set. A stripper and a banjoist made brief guest appearances.

The new songs aligned well with the older tunes, featuring similarly bubbly personality, whimsical musical arrangements, and majestic harmonies. Enscoe, Shepherd and Strayhorn introduced most songs with insider reflections revealing the inspirations for the lyrics. The most endearing and intimate portion of the program was when the three moved off the stage and into the middle of the audience to perform without stage lights, microphones or amplification, as the audience generated a collective spotlight by shining their cell phone flashlights on the vocalists.

Is Bandits on the Run indie-folk? Theatrical music? Americana? Pop? Probably all of the above, and simultaneously as well. The performance at Night Club 101 was simply rough magic.

Setlist

Rough Magic

1. Am I Your Mirror?
2. O My Soul
3. Woods Alone At Night
4. Like A Clam
5. White Chapel, Red Light
6. lostlostlost

In Between

1. You Have Changed
2. Radio
3. Reach Back
4. Back Home

Rough Magic

1. Tilted Universe
2. Song for Jon
3. May This Love
4. The Bell Rang
5. Rough Magic
6. Love Pass Through

Encore

1. I Believe in a Thing Called Love

***

The Manhattan Beat covers New York City's live music circuit. All articles are written by Everynight Charley Crespo. All photographs are taken by Everynight Charley Crespo, except when noted otherwise.

For a list of Manhattan venues that are presenting live music regularly, swing the desktop cursor to the right of the home page and click on the pop-up tab "Where to Find Live Music."

For a more complete listing of upcoming performances in the New York City area, visit The Manhattan Beat's July and August calendars.